In Lebanon's northern port city of Tripoli, at least nine people have
been killed in the last five days in clashes between supporters of the
Syrian uprising and proponents of President Bashar al-Assad.

A child was killed in the latest clashes on Thursday.

Both
sides blame the other for the violence. The Lebanese army has been
deployed to restore calm, and is being seen by some as a party to the
conflict.

The supporters of the Syrian opposition in Tripoli are
mainly Sunni Muslims, and they are clashing with Alawites - belonging to
the same sect as Assad. But, they say the fighting is political, not
sectarian.